Hello Kitty

It was only a matter of time before the purebred dog debate spilled over into the much less-familiar world of cat breeding. In this piece from the Mail, the ''inbreeding'' of pedigree cats is blamed for a variety of health concerns related to felines including cancer, sensitive skin and monorchidism.

It really bothers me how the word ''inbred'' is being used as the catchphrase for any illness or negative trait connected to these animals. Of course I'm not suggesting that the potential outcome of a father-daughter or brother-sister mating could be anything less than disastrous if the genetic slot-machine lands on 3 unlucky stars (the chances of which obviously increasing in such a mating if those predispositions exist.) But journalists are using inbreeding as an easy and over-simplified explanation to draw readers in. Its a highly charged word that strikes an emotional chord with people, but realistically cannot be the one-size-fits-all answer for everything. Consider how outcrossed the human race is and the growing number of genetic problems we face.

A similar story ran in the Telegraph, seen here. It finished with a quote from the owner of a pet website who said on the subject of purebreds ''It is man imposing his idea of what a cat should look like. It is the tyranny of breeding." I hope that the readers of those comments consider the many great things that the tradition of breeding animals for purpose,function and even appearance has afforded us . To describe it as tyranny is absurd, but then again the absurd makes for great headlines.

Pointers in hawking

We spent an interesting evening at the picturesque Norfolk home of Ted and Donna Macdougall, owners of the once very successful Adstock Pointer line. Donna is a retired veterinarian, and both she and husband Ted still retain an active interest in field work with their dogs. Situated amongst 25 acres of countryside and woodland their farm provides a fantastic natural habitat for a variety of gamebirds and wildlife.

Before he met Donna and began his lifelong association with the Pointer breed, Ted was an avid falconer. He sought a breed suited to work with his Peregrine falcons, and the Pointer's steady and focused outlook ticked all the right boxes. Today the Macdougall's keep 3 Peregrines, each one hand-raised from the time of hatching so as to ''imprint'' to its keeper. This type of early socialization makes for a much more reliable partner in the open field. Ted explained how hand-reared birds were also easier keepers as they felt a sense of calm in their surroundings in the aviary.

Ted described the incredible excitement of being in the field alongside his faithful Pointers, and the moment a bird is discovered. While the dog remains frozen on point, the falcon is released skyward to climb for its final descent.

It was a reminder of the many ways in which dogs have been bred to aid their human counterparts, and a real credit to the breeders of bench show champions who still insist that their dogs retain the talent and working drives that they were bred for generations ago.

A falconry blog can be found here.

CSI Crufts: Jemima Undercover

Not sure why the show dog world's BFF, Jemima Harrison, felt she had to go ''incognito'' to Crufts this year, other than it sounds sooo much more fabulous! Sorry to crush any delusions of grandeur, but I seriously doubt anyone would recognize her. I also cannot comprehend why she feels the need to attack Britain's most famous show, show dogs, and show breeders at every opportunity. In her recent piece in the Times, she describes the event in typical upbeat fashion:

''It’s not the gamey whiff of the Irish terrier strung up on a table, groomed to millimetre perfection. It’s not the acrid aroma from the splashes of urine pooling by the rows of benches where hundreds of bored-looking dogs doze, waiting their turn in the ring. It’s the stench of continuing denial in the face of overwhelming evidence that there is something terribly wrong with our pedigree dogs. ''

I wonder if that description is in line with what the scores of excited children and families experienced while exploring the halls of the NEC? Judging by the smiles, laughter and curiosity I saw in their faces I suspect it was a much more pleasant and enjoyable day out for them. Jemima's scene sounds utterly depressing. Talk about the glass being half empty.

She suggests that a class-winning Peke is unable to walk more than a few paces outside the crowded ring because it is physically unable, instead of the more logical assumption that it is a typically stubborn Peke...but just as was the case in PDE, why let the truth stand in the way of a good story. I think Jemima longs for a world where a flock of Pekes scampers ''20 miles a day on Salisbury Plain,'' and while that scenario sounds super cute, it is unlikely and quite frankly unnecessary.

The ''more moderate Bulldog'' that Jemima refers to as the breed winner, suggesting that his win was a nod to the newly revised standard, is actually the top winning Bulldog of the previous year. Even before PDE, this particular dog was winning in a big way.

I am perplexed at WHY Ms Harrison continues to attack and alienate all of us who show dogs. If comparing us to Nazis is her way of getting us on board she needs to rethink her approach. She still fails to acknowledge that the majority of show breeders...not pet shop suppliers, puppy dealers, and pet breeders... are actively using health testing methods of different varieties and constantly trying to improve our dogs by importing stock from around the world. If she was simply championing for the KC to make changes, and not trying to discredit the hard work and progress made by the breeders of show dogs, then maybe she could come to Crufts without the mask on.

B- Cud goes post-al

To paraphrase the lyrically-gifted but sadly defunct British girlband Mis-teeq, canine spin doctor Beverly Cuddy gets ''so so so slanderous'' in her warm.fuzzy blog Cold Wet Nose in an entry regarding her predictions for the winner of Crufts best in show this past Sunday. Raps B Cud,

''The Standard Poodle is my tip for the top.
True, it is Britain's top dog - so not exactly an out of field prediction.
But it is also a dog handled and owned by people who seem to be writing the very slimy book - How to win friends and influence people at the KC.
In the run up to Crufts they started a very, very sucky-upy KC-friendly blog.
Odd time to do this as it's my experience they don't reflect the current mood of the show world.
I have been hearing from more and more really excellent show breeders who say they agree with everything we reformists are saying. People steeped in the show world who want to know what they have to do to start putting everything right. That it's time the KC reflected the good people, started doing meaningful reform on inbreeding before it's too late for their beloved breeds.
On every radio phone-in I've been half expecting someone stereotypical spouting the KC line to pop up with the sort of stuff that the KC-creepy blog is pumping - but instead I've even had breeders with 50 years experience agreeing with me that things have to change at the KC. Some are even KC members themselves. They are cheering us on.
Let me make another prediction, the writers of the pro-KC blog may also be soon rewarded with KC membership - if it hasn't already come their way.''


I'm not sure why Ms Cuddy chose to single us out and drop libelous, conspiracy-esque bombs about our character and motives. More fool her, as we probably agree on quite a bit more than she realizes. I guess that when you offer an opposing view it infuriates those who wish to suppress what might actually make people think ''Hey, wait a sec....maybe what that angry chick keeps saying ain't entirely right!''

To clarify a point: This is NOT a pro- Kennel Club blog....it is a PRO responsible breeder, exhibitor and purebred dog fancier blog, and one that aims to counter much of the negative and biased info that is spewed out by the media on what seems like a daily basis. In fact, this blog was started out of frustration at the KC's inefficiency in challenging the accusations leveled at the show dog community following the BBC program and the months that followed, short of saying ''But we changed the breed standards.''

I am not getting paid to do this, I have no aspirations for Kennel Club membership, and the only thing I can probably hope to achieve in spending my time pounding away at the keyboard is spreading the positive message that the show world is (and has been for years!) heavily committed to seeing improvements into the health and genetic awareness-side of breeding dogs, and resolute in that there is always more work to be done, despite what is being depicted in the press. Full stop.

Crufts turns 118

Another successful Crufts has come to a close in Birmingham. Despite speculation by some that this year's event would be tarnished by the negative press it and the world of purebred dogs has been receiving, Crufts 2009 attained the 3rd highest entry in its history and was visited by 140,000+ during the 4 days of competition. The dog show's Youtube stream was the most viewed channel of the day at points throughout the weekend. Judge Peter Green's choice for best in show of course was Charmin, the Sealyham Terrier from America. He added this win to his astonishing record which includes bests at the US Terrier spectacular Montgomery County as well as the World Show in Stockholm last summer. Charmin is handled by Margery Good whose family's ''Goodspice'' prefix is known worldwide. Interestingly Charmin's litter brother was a former top dog all breeds in Canada, their country of birth. Huge congrats to all involved!

Reserve Best was the UK-owned and bred white Standard Poodle CH Afterglow The Big Tease, who retired from competition with his Crufts success. Donny is last year's #1 dog of all breeds in Britain.

The ''protest'' expected from vegetarian activists amounted to not much more than 20 individuals, who dispersed once rain rolled in late Sunday morning. There were a few reports of misconduct inside the show, including an dog sprayed with paint on its way through the benches. Note that there was no reported connection between these events and the Veggies.

Judging by the massive crowds that grew each day leading up to Sunday's finale, it seems clear that while the public and dog community agree that more can always be done to ensure health and welfare of our beloved companions, events like Crufts are a great way to celebrate the wonderful world of dogs and the joys they bring to our lives.

Click here for an interesting and refreshingly balanced view by Stanley Johnson, seen in the Telegraph.

Meet and Veg

Much alarm has been raised by the news that a group of ''vegetarian activists'' plan to rally outside of Crufts this year to oppose the show, the Kennel Club, and the 'use of dogs as slaves' amongst other things. There has been a touch of hysteria on the part of show going exhibitors who fear that the protest will result in something much more sinister than a mere rally. There are rumors flying about that dogs will be let out of crates and set free or even poisoned in the name of ''freedom'' from life as a show dog.

There is no doubt an element of exaggeration to these reports and hopefully Crufts will not be marred by the insane logic from the likes of PETA and the Animal Liberation Front. While these types of extreme protest sound far-fetched they have actually happened before at shows in the US and I'm told here in Britain as well, so they are not completely unimaginable. I understand why people are concerned, and we will certainly be keeping a watchful eye on our dogs at all times.

Beverly Cuddy, in her irritatingly condescending-albeit-clever way, has made light of the situation and poked fun at some of the concerns expressed by members of various show dog forums in her blog Cold Wet Nose, the offshoot of her monthly publication. She states:

''The veggies of Northants must have some infrastructure if they're going to pull all of these things off!.......What's the strangest Crufts rumour you've spotted so far? Please do post me any other outbreaks of paranoia as you spot them.
In the words of Michael Winner (almost), "Calm down madam, it's only a dog show!"

Just had a comment on this blog asking what I am trying to achieve. I guess what I'm hoping for is that people will start calming down and seeing how ridiculous all this is.
Both sides in this debate love dogs and imagining that those who want health reform want to do their dogs harm is obviously illogical. But the more people scare each other the easier it is to believe in bogeymen.''

The group's website describes itself and its goals: ''Veggies Catering Campaign provides catering services using no animal ingredients whatsoever and gives support to campaigns for social justice''

The group's online memo for the proposed Crufts rally has a link to the cult also known as PETA's new anti-purebred dog advert starring a man in KKK regalia (seriously) who wanders into an American Kennel Club meeting. The veggie group is very much in keeping with PETA lingo when it refers to the terrier and hound breeds as ''the other victims of bloodsports'' and the working and pastoral breeds as ''slaves.''

Do these sound like the whimsical musings of a zany bunch of kids who just love tofu and make a fab organic carrot and swede mash?

Crufts is going to be so interesting this year!

Did Pedigree Turn Its Back on Purebred Dogs?

Much has been written about the Pedigree brand's withdrawal as principal sponsor of Crufts, and its reasons for doing so. The anti-dog show set have encouraged the notion that the company was convinced to do so upon viewing the docu-drama Pedigree Dogs Exposed, seeking to distance itself from the ''parade of mutant freaks.'' Or perhaps it had something to do with the fact that a minority of show breeders use the product, opting for other brands with better reviews. (More popular brand names in the Mars family can be seen as Crufts, business as usual) It was a shame that the company allowed the media to spin its own version and never chose to set the record straight.

Whatever the motivation the fact remains that although they will not be seen at Crufts this year the brand Pedigree is still very much a part of the show scene across Europe and in the USA. Even here at home Pedigree is still working along side the Kennel Club. The annual Pedigree Adoption Drive is partnered with the KC's Charitable Trust. Last year the joint effort raised over £480,000 for the cause. This year's goal is £600,000 and they are 3/4 of the way there already.